A Tree in Paradise

By James R. Varner

This world we live in is not at peace. We experience the result of greed, the desire to control others, wars, and rumors of war. From my travels, I realize that most people would like to just live their lives in peace and comfort, have a meaningful existence, support their family, love and be loved, and see their children grow to be happy and healthy.

The answer to a peaceful world with personal peace and harmony is to take a journey into your inner soul. Discover who you really areand that we are all branches on the same tree of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Dec 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781489703804

James R. Varner

James Varner was born in Bakersfield, California on September 25, 1940. Since his childhood he contemplated the reason to be, asking, What is this thing called life all about? His quest for answers has taken him on many interesting journeys exploring world religions and philosophies. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology/Anthropology in 1964 and a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1972. He served in the Peace Corps from 1964 through 1966 and traveled extensively in Europe, around the Mediterranean, Middle East, the continent of Africa, and Mexico always seeking to understand people and find the common core that links people together. He is a practicing architect living in Bakersfield, California and lives with his wife, Jean, and grandson Ashton. He enjoys writing short stories about family history, his life and the mystery of the mystical side of human nature.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 James R. Varner.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

LifeRich Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.liferichpublishing.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-0379-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-0380-4 (e)

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 12/08/2014

I

dedicate this book to my grandson, Ashton Forest Varner. May he grow in wisdom and inner vision to see beyond the appearance of the material world and touch his oneness with the spirit of all life and all that is. May he come to know that he is an individualized branch of the tree of life and that the seed of creation is with in him ready to express.

John 15: 1-6

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that It may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.

Acknowledgements

My thanks to Aimee Hogan for her creative talent for the graphics